OUTTERIDGE And JENSEN Move Into The Lead At 49er Worlds

49er World Championship 2009

Riva del Garda, Italy

The first day of racing in the finals of the 49er Worlds provided fickle winds and changing conditions which seemed to suit current 49er World Champion Nathan OUTTERIDGE with crew Iain JENSEN just fine.

Only two teams were able to post three consistent races in the single digits and the 2, 1, 4 posted by the Aussies launched them into first overall.

Pietro SIBELLO and Gianfranco SIBELLO of Italy were the only other pair to keep them low which moved them into second while the qualifying leaders of Stevie MORRISON and Ben RHODES (GBR) and John PINK and Rick PEACOCK (GBR) struggled a bit dropping both into fourth and third respectively. Both PINK and PEACOCK and MORRISON and RHODES won a race each, but they were countered by deeper finishes.

Racing was delayed while the breeze couldn't fill and remained in the 8 knot range. At times it completely died onshore, but the Race Committee was able to find enough to hold three races for the gold fleet.

The silver and bronze fleets each were able to have one race a piece although the bronze fleet had their first race abandoned due to shifting winds and completed race two in the morning. The lone silver race was won by Bernardo FREITAS and Francisco ANDRADE of Portugal who had broken their mast earlier in the week. Peter BURLING and Blair TUKE of New Zealand are the current leaders of the silver fleet.

Three races were held for the 89 teams in winds of a consistent 18 knots once the Ora filled on Lake Garda. MORRISON and RHODES began with a win in the first race of the day but slipped with a 4, 8 while PINK and PEACOCK sailed a consistent 2, 2, 3 to bring them to the even tie.

Eight races are scheduled for the final series with the Medal Race to take place on Sunday after morning races.